The Meralco Bolts showed their poise late in the game to put away the resilient Blackwater Elite, 104-96, and advance to the semifinals of the Oppo PBA Governors’ Cup Thursday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
The Bolts, in danger of losing their twice-to-beat advantage, battled back from a 12-point deficit and needed clutch baskets from Baser Amer and Jared Dillinger to secure a final four ticket.
Amer finished with 31 points, four rebounds and three assists while Dillinger made 15 points on five three-pointers to lift the Bolts who take on the Star Hotshots in the semifinals.
Import Allen Durham scored 18 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists while battling through an ankle injury in the fourth quarter.
Garvo Lanete also made 17 points spiked by five three-pointers, as Ranidel De Ocampo also stepped up by tallying 14 points and eight rebounds while playing good defense on import Henry Walker.
Meralco started the game with a 17-9 lead but the Elite fired 13 unanswered points to take the edge.
Walker however went unconscious in the second half, burying four straight triples in a personal 12-0 run to help Blackwater grab a 52-40 halftime edge.
Walker already had 27 points and 11 boards after the first two quarters. But the Bolts adjusted on defense, smothering the import in the perimeter and not allowing him to have open looks at the basket.
Walker, who finished the game with 34 points and 16 rebounds, however still scored five straight to close the third quarter as Blackwater still took a 77-73 lead amid Meralco’s surge.
But the Bolts took over in the final frame. Amer sparked an 11-0 run to put Meralco on top, 90-84, with 8:06 left.
The Elite got a huge break after Durham exited the game due to an ankle injury. But the import-less Bolts managed to stay afloat behind Amer and Dillinger.
Durham returned to the game with 4:22 left and quickly made his presence felt, scoring six straight points to hand the Bolts a 101-94 lead.
Dillinger knocked down a dagger triple with 1:29 remaining to finally dispatch the Elite.
The scores:
MERALCO 104 – Amer 31, Durham 18, Lanete 17, Dillinger 15, De Ocampo 14, Newsome 7, Hodge 2, Caram 0, Hugnatan 0, Nabong 0, Tolomia 0.
BLACKWATER 96 – Walker 34, Erram 18, Digregorio 11, Maliksi 10, Canaleta 6, Marcelo 6, Belo 5, Sumang 4, Pinto 2.
Quarters: 22-22, 40-52, 73-77, 104-96.